Olympics Keep Tight Rein on Social Media, Marketing

During what's been dubbed the first "social media" Olympics, the International Olympic Committee is encouraging athletes to share their experiences with the world. Its social media guidelines suggest that they communicate "in first-person, diary-type format." But the medal hopefuls will have to watch what they post, blog, and tweet because the IOC, as the owner of the Games (and author of the Olympic Charter), has set limits on what they can say. There are similar strict controls on related marketing and advertising. Amy Savela, associate general counsel for marketing at the U.S. Olympic Committee, says that she and the legal department there will be monitoring a running list of social media concerns ranging from the language that companies use to talk about athletes and the Games to what athletes themselves say. Law.com has the details